If you’ve ever contemplated becoming a physician, two write ups warrant reading: “How Becoming a Doctor Works,” http://www.howstuffworks.com/becoming-a-doctor.htm and the “Process of Medical Education,” Chapter 2 of the AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements(MSAR). The MSAR is a thick reference book containing over 400 pages that detail the medical admissions process and profile the universe of 130 US and Canadian medical schools. The guide is available at the AAMC website (https://www.aamc.org) for $25, which includes access to its online version.

For a high school student considering a career in medicine, the book maps out the details of pursuing either the allopathic (standard MD) or osteopathic (DO) degrees. The path, by the way, is lengthy as it includes 4 years of undergraduate premedical study, 4 years of medical school, anywhere from 3-6 years of residency, and possibly 2-3 years of postgraduate fellowship work. Adding to the challenge is passing each of the three parts of the US Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE). Just knowing the commitment of time (doing the math, it will take, after high school, another 12-14 years before you’re set to begin a practice) and money (the average 2008 UC San Diego medical graduate indebtedness was just under $100,000) is invaluable.

Also clearly portrayed is the competitiveness of the medical school admissions process. Specifically, during the recent admissions cycle, there were 42,742 medical school applicants, of whom 18,665, or 43%, enrolled. Additionally, each applicant, on average, submitted 14 applications. The competitiveness is better grasped within individual profiles. UC San Diego’s medical school, for example, received 5,560 applications, interviewed 676, and enrolled 134 candidates, for an admissions rate of 2.4%.

The MSAR delves into medicine as a career, the medical education process, premedical programs, the medical school application process, how to finance a medical education (not for the feint hearted), and details on BS/MD programs. It also profiles, as mentioned, the entire universe of medical schools in the United States and Canada. Looking at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, for example, you discover its entering class is 128, the required and recommended preparation courses (e.g. Organic Chemistry, Physics), the mean MCAT score of the incoming class, 35, the average GPA, 3.8 for both overall and science courses, the costs by year, around $90,000, the number of applicants, 2,114, those invited for an interview, 366, and the number enrolled, 117, or 5.5%.

The ‘Undergraduate Premedical Preparation’ chapter is divided into sections on ‘Academic Preparation’, and ‘Development of Personal Attributes’. One topic that concerns many pre-med students is selecting a major. Though many choose biology, medical schools seek candidates with strong intellectual curiosity across a ‘variety of disciplines’. Since pre-medical students are already consuming a core load of biology, chemistry, and physics, a major in a subject outside the realm of science is worth considering. Remember, college is probably one of your last chances to explore history, literature, or the arts. A major in one of these areas also might also prove a nice balance to the heavy dose of science and math. Separately, medical schools want candidates who have independent research experience, or are in honors programs. The more advanced and self-propelled your studies, the more impressive you will appear. Your decision making, compassion, and commitment to self-improvement are also evaluated.

If after doing your due diligence, you find yourself convinced medicine is the profession for you, you might want to apply, directly out of high school, to one of the combined BS/MD programs. A listing of the combined programs is in Chapter 10 of the 2010-2011 MSAR, and includes extensive details on programs from USC’s Keck School of Medicine to the combined programs of such schools as Villanova University with Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. The on-line version actually highlights the various BS/MD programs.

The best way to begin any journey is with a solid sense of where you’re going, and what your options are. For planning the journey of a medical career, the MSAR Guide is a reasonably priced and indispensable tool.